Lenoir De Nantes -- Quilter with too many UFO's

5th Annual Crafty Friends Retreat is over

2011-10-10T09:19:00.002-04:00

I had a wonderful time at the retreat! My time and schedule was my own except for meal times which are scheduled. I ate too much!

My first completion was one block from my BOM Civil War Tribute. It was BOM 3 and took much longer than I expected. I had to figure out the finished size of the HST in order to get the block to overall size.

The second completion was a set of patriotic pillowcases for my GS. I will get them to him in time for voting day in November.

My third completion was a standard bed size reversible fleece blanket. It will be a Christmas present for MIL. It is black on one side and has white flowers with a black background on the other size. It went very quickly.

I have signed up for next year's retreat. I still have to find out exactly what dates.

Have a nice day.

I am starting to feel my finger tips

2011-10-06T12:42:00.001-04:00

After all the research I am learning not to lean on my left elbow. So much is done with the mouse at Ancestry dot com.

I have found ancestors for myself and DH that lived in the 5Th century.

WOW

Have a great day.

21 hours until the Retreat

2011-10-06T12:17:00.002-04:00

I have added an additional two projects to take with me. One is a double sided fleece blanket for my MIL. It is in black and white. The second is a project from my LQS that will be a table cover.

Yes I am counting the hours, minutes and even seconds.

I know I will arrive too early tomorrow morning. Check in is at 10:00 A.M. I really want to leave the house at 8:30. I would get there around 9:00. Maybe they will let me bring in my machine and projects or maybe not. I have a great book to read and will sit on the porch that surrounds the building where we have our retreat. The weather is supposed to be in the low 80's all weekend long and sunny every day.

I am so stoked that I have completed several projects at work this week. I am on a streak.

Have a great weekend.

5th Annual Crafty Ladies Retreat

2011-09-27T11:29:00.001-04:00

On October 7 I leave for retreat. I cannot wait!

I have three projects chosen. The first is a BOM project that is a year old. The second is some more pillow cases for my grandson. The third is my current Breakfast Club project Cherry Cobbler.

More later.

NQA 42 Annual Quilt Show

2011-05-31T10:59:00.003-04:00

I received confirmation of my class at the quilt show. It will be Saturday morning June 18. I am taking a class in Sashiko and am really looking forward to it. The afternoon will be spent rushing around the show and vendors. I am taking my running shoes.

Have a great day.

Friday night in ruins

2011-05-24T13:05:00.001-04:00

Friday evening I was all set to sew and then the worst happened. Well maybe not the worst but certainly not a good thing for a FNSI. I was on call for work and got paged to come in.

Result: no sewing at all and no pictures at all.

Sorry. I blew it.

Have a great day.

FNSI

2011-05-20T10:25:00.001-04:00

Tonight is the official FNSI. I have been working on my "Winning Hands" blocks all week long. I have completed about 15 of the 33 blocks needed for the king size top. I will try to take pictures as I progress tonight. (I know,I know I have promised before)...give me a break. Once I start sewing I don't even stop for bathroom duty until I absolutely have to.

Have a great weekend.

Rhapsody from Strip Club

2011-05-04T12:44:00.002-04:00

The last two evenings have been filled with laying out the strips for the Rhapsody design. My quilters design table is just not large enough to spread out everything. I will have to get out my side table tonight to continue with the pattern. Since I am using a scrapy look the pattern has be to layed out piece by piece before any sewing can be done. I think it will turn out nice.
REMEMBER: Self, take pictures to share.
Have a great day.

Danish Scones

2011-05-03T11:29:00.003-04:00

The quilt top is complete. The binding and backing have been chosen. All is in a separate package for the day when I get my quilting frame up.

This morning I had an epiphany on the way to work. My studio design was to include the quilting frame in the same room as the sewing machines. Now I am thinking that once I get everything out of the old sewing room and into the Studio I can set up the frame in the now empty sewing room and name it the quilting room. I can run a cable from the Dish transmitter in the Studio into the Quilting Room and set up a TV to watch my quilting and sewing programs. I will put the old DVD player in there and can watch all the movies that DH does not like.

What a mind bender!

Have a great day.

Fed Up and doing something about it

2011-04-21T10:01:00.003-04:00

I have finally decided that I cannot stay in the living room while my husband soaks up "Ghost Hunter's", "24 Hours"(a cop show) and similar programs that I do not enjoy. This week I issued my desire when he is watching these shows. I will go into my sewing studio and sew. WOW.l

The last two evenings I have been working on my project for "Breakfast Club". We are currently doing "Danish Scones" and I want to finish my quilt top before the 3rd Saturday in May. May will be the start of a new project "Blueberry Cobbler". I will need to go through my stash and pick out a light green shade, a background fabric and two tones of blue...unless I decide to may mine "Cherry Cobbler" and choose two tones of cherry red.

Have a great day.

Recap of FNSI

2011-04-18T13:49:00.001-04:00

I did participate in the Friday Night Sew In. I made 4 pillow cases for the Million Pillowcase Challenge. I forgot to take pictures and turned the cases into my LQS Saturday morning. Sorry there are no photos to share with you. Have a great day.

FNSI - Friday, April 15

2011-04-13T12:57:00.001-04:00

Friday is that time again. The Friday Night Sew In. I intend to take my bunny slippers down to my Sewing Studio and get the sewing machine in gear. Have a great day.

International Quilt Festival -- Cincinnati 2011

2011-03-28T13:13:00.000-04:00

The IQF Spring show is coming to Cincinnati in April. I have volunteered to work hanging the quilts prior to the show and to be a "white glove lady" called a guardian. Maybe I will see you at the festival. The more the merrier. Have a great day.

I haven't been quilting

2011-03-28T13:01:00.003-04:00

The latest and last book in the "Earth Children" series comes out on Tuesday, March 29. I have been reading until my eyes cross to get through the previous 5 books. I will be able to download number 6 tomorrow morning on my way to work. I cannot believe that this is the final book in the series. The Clan of the Cave Bear September, 1980 The Valley of Horses September, 1982 The Mammoth Hungers Fall, 1985 The Plans of Passage November, 1990 The Shelters of Stone April, 2002 The Land of Painted Caves March, 2011 Knowing this author she may just have another book to add to the series. I will have to wait. In the meantime I have picked up my new Baby Lock Serger and need to find just the right place to put it into my Craft Studio. I have several UFO's that are crying out to me that they need to be finished. Have a great day.

March Friday Night Sew In

2011-03-16T12:40:00.002-04:00

I am signed up again this month. Tonight I will be restoring my sewing room after the trip to Pigeon Forge, TN and setting up for Friday.

There are several possibilities to work on. I could layer the penguin quilt. I could work on one of the quilts I started a A Mountain Quilt Fest. I could work on some things for my grandson.

So many ideas and so little time. LOL

Have a great day.

A Mountain Quiltfest -- Pigeon Forge, TN

2011-03-12T10:00:00.003-05:00

Well, I finally made it to Quiltfest. What a great time.

Monday I signed in at the Pigeon Forge Convention Center (PFCC).
Tuesday I had a class with Sally Collins -- Flower Basket.
Wednesday I had a class with Melinda Davis -- Ohio Star
Thursday I checked out the quilt show at the Music Row Convention Center (MRCC).
Friday I had a class with Sally Collins -- My Stars.
Today I am recovering.
Sunday we head home.

The classes were fantastic.

I learned how to use the Square in a Square ruler and got the second edition of the SnS book as well as two books free about the inventor of the ruler. I am working on a scrappy Ohio Star quilt top.

In Sally Collins classes I found out my weaknesses in quilting. I need to be more accurate in my seam allowances and not to accept a single thread width error. I also found out how to avoid these errors by measuring and validating every seam before continuing to the next seam.

I can find SnS uses in the miniature quilts that Sally teaches and shows in her collections.l

There are many pictures for me to post, but I cannot load the pictures onto this computer so will have to wait until I get home to post them.

There was an excellent piece of advice that I got from Sally Collins. She chooses fabrics for color combinations and then picks gradient colors from the fabric to determine what she will use in the next quilt top she is planning. She also uses pictures from nature; the example she had was a picture of yellow roses. This may be a way to start my quilts in the future instead of having someone else pick out my fabrics for me.

My sewing machine and quilt supplies are already in the car for the trip home. Today is DH's day totally. He hasn't had much attention from me this week and I need to change that!

Have a great day.

An awesome husband

2011-03-04T10:03:00.003-05:00

Wednesday evening I totally broke my traveling sewing machine. The bobbin would not work at all. DH asked how much a new machine would cost. I told him between $100 and $8,000. His eyes bugged out.

Thursday I called my LQS to ask about Baby Lock sewing machines and they recommended three that would be good starters. We discussed features and price.

Later that afternoon DH went into the LQS and talked to them. He bought the one I had decided I would buy after I had escrowed the money. He also warned them I might come in to buy the machine and to lie through their teeth to keep my from purchasing it.

When I got home DH sent me down to my studio for a totally different reason and I discovered my new sewing machine. He had purchased a Baby Lock Molly for me. Last night I got real familiar with Molly and I am ready for my road trip.

Road trip you say. Sunday we are leaving for Gatlinburg for the Mountain Quiltfest and I have two classes with Sally Collins. Molly is going to be the star of the show for me.

Have a great day. Mine started out with sunshine and happiness even though it is raining outside and we have a flood warning for the Ohio River.

FNSI

2011-02-24T09:44:00.003-05:00

Although I never posted any pictures of my progress on Friday I will note that I made a canvas tote for carrying wood in from the wood heap to my fireplace. I have used it twice and it was a good use of the fabric.

I also sewed on the side of the backing for the penguin quilt. All I have to do is open some batting and let it rest and then layer the quilt. My friend has agreed that for now the quilt will be tied. Later I will quilt it on the machine.

FNSI was fantastic and I really enjoyed myself.

Have a great day.

Friday Night Sew In

2011-02-18T10:56:00.001-05:00

I have a list of movies to watch while I sew. I cannot wait.

I will try to take pictures as I progress.

I will sew tonight!

Have a great day.

Firm Foundations with Jane Hall

2011-02-03T11:23:00.003-05:00

I just had to sign up at Quilt University for this class. Unfortunately my usual procrastination means that lesson 4 is posted and I am just starting lesson 1. Last night I spend time on the first foundation in the class. I decided to make two identical ones at the same time. Twice I cut off the wrong piece of material and had to unsew and put fabric back on the seam.

Foundation Piecing is still a mystery to me but I find I am enjoying the learning experience. I am going to have to spend more time in my studio and less time in the living room.

Yes, my studio. It is no longer a family room. I have put up one of three book cases purchased just for the studio. I also have a desk to assemble that I will put my desktop computer on. I have a quilt designer table and a sewing machine table that has a drop area for my machine. I purchased a iron pad that is rectangular and have put it over my old sewing table. There is very little left in the family room that needs to be kept, filed, recycled or burned. I have so much shredded paper that I can start several fires in the fire place and keep warm.

My quilting frame will be going up shortly. I will be using one of my older machines for in place of a true short/mid/long arm machine. I need to start an escrow account for the mid arm machine of my dreams.

Have a great day.

FNSI

2011-01-25T11:40:00.003-05:00

I failed miserably at the FNSI. I had a new book that I couldn't put down. I got no sewing done what so ever. I am totally ashamed.
My work on my studio makeover is getting closer to completion. I have one area in the long L of the family room to finish and then I can start moving things around. The area in the short L is still a work in progress. My that I mean I have made no progress in it at all.
I have signed up for the "A Mountain Quiltfest" in Pigeon Forge, TN. I will be taking 3 classes. Two of them are from Sally Collins. I expect that my quality of work will improve. The third class is the Ohio Star class. I am looking forward to that too.
I have offered to help with the International Quilt Festival 2011 in Cincinnati. I have chosen my volunteer dates and times. I left some time to just cruise the show as well. I will be taking 4 vacation days to enjoy the show.
Got to go.
Have a great day.

January FNSI

2011-01-18T10:23:00.002-05:00

I just signed up for the FNSI. I plan to finish the top of the Penguin quilt and the tie it. If I finish all this on Friday I will be starting a Valentines vest.

Have a great day.

Here are my photos from FNSI

2010-12-18T00:21:00.007-05:00

It is very late Friday evening or very early on Saturday depending on where you live. I just turned out the lights in my sewing room after taking pictures of my progress.

I have finished all the blocks and have started putting the blocks together. I am placing them on point.

This is a second view of the top. I didn't have time to put up my flannel to lay things out. Instead the top is on my quilter's design table.

These are the last six blocks. Four of them will be used to finish the on point design. I have enough blue stars fabric to fill in the corners.

I will not be able to work on the quilt again until late Sunday. It must be finished no later than Tuesday evening. This is a gift and it has to be given on Wednesday.

Have a great Saturday.

Tonight is another FNSI

2010-12-17T15:41:00.002-05:00

My intention for tonight is to finish up all the blocks and put them on my flannel block board to arrange. If I have the time I will start to put the rows together. Maybe with luck I will have the top completed before tomorrow morning.

I have every intention to post pictures before I leave the house Saturday morning. Let's see how that goes.

Have a great day.

FNSI pictures for you

2010-12-16T21:40:00.008-05:00

I have up loaded my pictures from Friday. Here they are:

Above are the fabrics I will be using.

These are the initial cuts of the fabric. I am cutting 2 1/2 inch strips of the black fabric. There are 7 X 7 squares of the penguin fabric. The star fabric and the orange fabric will become half square triangles.

These are the first of the half square triangles before squaring up.

This is my first block completed.

This is a stack of blocks ready to sew.

I have completed nine blocks and have eleven to go. All the black strips are cut and all the half square triangles are sewn and ready for squaring up.

I will post more picture later.

Have a nice day.

I broke my word to you.

2010-12-14T12:10:00.002-05:00

Last night was very busy and the camera was the last thing on my mind.

I did do some more fabric cutting on this project.

However, I committed to knitting hats for the Lighthouse Youth Services in Cincinnati and had one pink hat to finish. I turned in all the hats this week and now am free to get back to my sewing.

I told DH that I would be in the sewing / craft room this evening. He was not delighted...he'll have to learn to deal with it.

Have a great day. I hope to have pictures for you very very soon.

FNSI -- December 10

2010-12-13T08:23:00.002-05:00

I actually had progress Friday. I have a quilt that I am making for a co-worker. It is intended as a Christmas present.

The fabrics are black, rust and blue with white stars. Also there is a coordinated fabric of the blue with white stars with penguins all over. The center square is 7" by 7" and is surrounded by 7" by 2 1/2" blocks in the black and 2 1/2" half square triangles in the orange and blue with white stars fabric. I took pictures and will try to post them this evening.

I have completed one block and have enough half square triangles for an additional 12 blocks. The blocks will be sewn together with the blocks set on point.

After I post the pictures this evening, I will continue to take pictures and post them as the quilt top is completed. It will be tied rather than quilted due to the procrastination of the quilter. LOL.

Have a great day.

Friday Night Sew In

2010-12-07T11:11:00.002-05:00

They are having two FNSI this month. The 10th and the 17th. Maybe this time I will get some pictures to post. LOL.

Promises

2010-10-19T11:54:00.001-04:00

I promised to show you what I did Friday.

I did take pictures.

Life has been filled with stress related opportunities?

I will post them A.S.A.P.

Sorry.

Have a great day

Tonight is FNSI

2010-10-15T12:36:00.001-04:00

This month I am going to take my camera into my sewing area and work and take pictures.

Will post everything before noon tomorrow.

Have a great day

Tonight is Friday Night Sew In

2010-09-17T14:24:00.004-04:00

Right now everything is still packed up from our very recent second trip to Gatlinburg. I really don't want to unpack because I have Saturday Breakfast Club to attend tomorrow, so I will just have to do something other than sewing.

I am leaving in two weeks for the 4th Annual Crafty Friends Retreat starting October 1. I am really anticipating a great weekend with many successes. I haven't decided what projects to take with me. Last year I had several and left all that I wasn't working on in the car and only went out for another project when I had completed the first. It was the most productive retreat I have ever been on.

I am leaning on my paper pieced BOM Crystal Reflections. I started one block during the first trip to Gatlinburg and I feel that I am getting the hang of it. I would really like to make a major dent into that project during the retreat.

Have a great day.

Tonight is Friday Night Sew In

2010-08-20T11:07:00.002-04:00

I have a few blocks to finish cutting out for the Christmas Quilt for my MIL. I will need this fabric all cut out before September 4.

I also found the pattern for the Apache Tears Quilt for DH. I don't know what prep I need before September 4.

You ask what is September 4? I am going to Gatlinburg all by myself for a week of tranquility. I will take all my food so I don't have to go to restaurants. I will take my swim suit and attend aerobics Monday through Thursday at the timeshare inside pool. I will also swim laps at the timeshare outside pool. I plans to enjoy the activities given to owners at the timeshare. All in all I do not plan to leave the property at all unless the new Jo Ann's store in Severville calls to me or I have forgotten something. I will be saving gas too.

Have a great day quilting.

Friday Night Sit In -- July

2010-07-28T12:46:00.003-04:00

Sorry that I haven't posted anything. I did work on the Breakfast Club Dutch quilt and have 24 blocks put together. I have additional blocks under construction. These blocks will continue until I have run out of fabric or do not have enough to add logically to the top. It will be either lap size or twin size.

Have a great day

Fund Raising Quilts Finished

2010-06-23T21:23:00.001-04:00

I finished both quilts Friday morning about 5:15 A.M. DD picked them up on her way to work. Everyone she talked to said that they looked great. I took some pictures and will attach later. The camera is downstairs and I am upstairs for the night.

Have a great day.

Fund Raising Quilt Update

2010-06-13T16:49:00.001-04:00

I have the binding sewn on the NICU quilt and am hand stitching it on.

The other baby quilt is pieced and quilted. I wanted to use the feather stitch on my machine, but after three unsewing of about 20" total I gave up and just did a straight stitch from corner to corner on the blocks.

I need to sew the binding on and finish the quilt.

DD will be picking them both up tomorrow morning about 7:25 A.M.

Have a great day.

Sorry to be gone so long.

2010-06-09T09:48:00.003-04:00

Memorial Day before it got too hot I decided to finish weeding the flower garden in front of the house. Big mistake! While weeding I dislocated my artificial right hip. After a ride in the ambulance and x-rays the doctors attempted a reduction. Basically it is an attempt to put the ball into the socket. They were not successful.

From Monday morning at about 7:30 until Wednesday morning at 11:00 I was totally bed bound. The pain was minimal and I was able to just relax and be prepared for surgery.

The surgery was done and only two parts of the artificial joint were needing replacement. After surgery the pain was so minimal that I did not need pain medication. They told me not to be a hero because pain would slow recovery.

Basically I lost 8 days of anything other than watching TV or reading.

Yesterday my daughter called. A fellow co-worker is off work because her husband is in hospice and not expected to be with us much longer. DD wondered if we could put a basket together for a raffle that our co-workers are planning to help our our friend. I immediately thought of the preemie quilt that has never been quilted. Also I recently learned a very simple pattern that can be made in various sizes from a baby quilt to queen size quilt. DD helped me pick the fabric from my stash to make the baby quilt.

I finished the quilting on the preemie quilt before supper and need to iron, cut and sew the top for the baby quilt. I do not think I have the right fabric for the back of the baby quilt or anything for binding. Guess my DH will have to wheel me around Jo Ann's Fabric this evening to get some fabric.

Have a great day

Scrap Therapy

2010-05-26T12:23:00.001-04:00

My LQS offers a class on the first Saturday of the month called Scrap Therapy. It is broken into two parts. The first is to learn what size pieces to cut for usable sizes. The second is to make things out of all the usable pieces.

Last night I ironed for almost 3 hours on what scraps I could find. I have a lovely ziploc bag full of the first of many scrap bags.

Have a great day.

What did I do on the Friday Night Sew In?

2010-05-24T20:55:00.006-04:00

I played with EQ6. Did you know that there is a version 7 coming out in June. I still have so many things to learn about 6 that I an in a quandary about what to do. I can get a great price on the upgrade if I pre-order before May 31. I will think it out again.

I decided to see what I could design with only HST. It was a lot of fun. Then I added a border. and when I was finished I had added a total of seven borders.

Would you like to see what I did?

First I designed the center arrangement of the HST. I added a border and this is what turned out.

The I went crazy and added six more borders.

I think it all turned out rather nifty.

Friday Night Sew In for May

2010-05-10T11:51:00.001-04:00

Friday, May 21 is the Friday Night Sew In. I cannot wait. I have a list ten miles long of what I want to do.

I have narrowed it down to the BOM for the Civil War Tribute and the Shop Hop last summer in Dayton / Cincinnati. I only have a few blocks left to do.

Talk to you later.

Are you getting tired of Dutch Breakfast Club?

2010-04-26T09:40:00.004-04:00

I finished squareing up the HST in red and sewed the final pinwheels together Sunday evening. The next challenge is to sew the sides to the newest pinwheels. After that is completed I will sew the dark HST and med light HST to the rectangles. Once that is completed I will sew the top, center and bottom strips into blocks. I believe that I have in excess of 25 blocks to sew. At a finished size that will be 40" by 40".

There are still additional fabric to sew more HST and rectangles. That will determine the size of the final project. A lap quilt needs 56 blocks to finish up a 56 by 64 lap quilt. I definitely have enough fabric for that. A standard / queen size quilt needs 192 blocks to finish up at 88 by 104. I think that the queen size is beyond my current stash. However, I bought the red and background fabrics within the last 8 weeks and it should sill be available at my LQS.

All depends on my desire for a new quilt in the master bedroom. Also, it would be the 2nd quilt on my new quilting frame. I have no intention of it being the first!

Have a great day

More Dutch Breakfast Club

2010-04-24T15:02:00.002-04:00

Friday I finally finished the half square triangles in red. I started sewing them together and then realized that I had sewn the wrong side together. There were almost 20 HST to unstitch but I got it done. After I finished the HST in red I sewed them together to create a pin wheel. A little more unstitching and I finished up with 12 center pin wheels.

Then I started sewing the top row together. I pieced all the light blue HST to a background rectangle. The I pieced all the medium dark blue HST to the other side. I chain pieced them all.

Next was to chain piece the background rectangle to the pin wheel of red HST on both sides. I got all the pin wheels that were done fastened to the background rectangles before bedtime.

This morning I made 50 more red HST for pin wheels. At the rate I am going this is going to be a queen sized quilt top. I would love to have the top totally pieced before the next meeting of the Breakfast Club in May.

Have a great day

Dutch Breakfast Club update

2010-04-23T08:18:00.002-04:00

Well I am getting there. Only a few red and pale blue half square triangles to square up and on to the blocks.

Last night was a brief time working on my quilt. DH bought Avatar yesterday and we watched it. I could see this one over and over. What a great movie with a good plot.

Have a great day

Dutch Breakfast Club Quilt

2010-04-22T08:11:00.001-04:00

Last evening I spent 2 hours sewing half square triangles for this quilt. Then I squared up each one. I still have 24 red hst to square up and I will start making the blocks. Hopefully that will be my goal for this evening.

It seems that every time I plan something there is an interruption or change in plans. What can I say. Life is a whirlwind and I am caught up in it.

I am waiting for my BOM for the Civil War Tribute quilt. I will sew it the weekend after it arrives.

Have a great day.

Dutch Breakfast Club

2010-04-19T09:03:00.001-04:00

We had a blast Saturday morning. As we sew together each month we get to know each other better. We talk about everything under the sun. It is so wonderful to have quilters as friends.

Breakfast was brought in by Carol F. and enjoyed by all. She made a sourdough, egg, cheese and Italian sausage casserole. WOW. It was great.

Then we got down to business. We had a show and tell for two of our members who had finished the tops of the Mexican Fiesta Eggs Breakfast Club. One quilt top was in muted pinks, greens and yellows of the tropics. It was beautiful. The other quilt top was a black background with brown and blue for the blocks. It was very Amish and the blocks floated on the fabric. WOW. Beautiful quilt tops.

I continued to work on my half square triangles and started putting the center of my blocks together. At 12:30 I had to clean up for the next class coming in.

During the evening at home I continued sewing and cutting half square triangles. I have enough fabric for about 80 full blocks but I think I will go with 56 blocks to make a twin size quilt top.

Since Monday is Wash Day I will be washing laundry tonight after work and continuing my homework from Breakfast Club this evening after work.

Have a great day

Friday Night Sew In

2010-04-19T09:01:00.001-04:00

I had homework to do for my Saturday morning Breakfast Club. I made 80 half square triangles out of 4 different colors.

Have a great day.

Dutch Breakfast Club

2010-04-16T10:56:00.003-04:00

Yesterday evening I started cutting out fabric for this project. I have 100 half square triangles to sew and cut. Then I will be ready to start putting the blocks together.

Fortunately tonight is Friday Night Sew In. I have another excuse to sit downstairs in my sewing room that is becoming a Studio. I am sure that DH will have something to say about this. I cannot blame him. This will be three nights in a row that I have not joined him in the living room to watch TV.

This is the most straight forward of the Breakfast Club patterns. The last one was a total disappointment. It is almost impossible to square up the blocks to meet my absurdly logical requirements. That one is going on the back burner for some time to come.

Tomorrow is Breakfast Club and I am looking forward to seeing my fellow quilters. It is nice to talk and sew together.

Have a nice day.

More progress on Studio Makeover

2010-04-15T10:54:00.002-04:00

Wednesday is the night DH watches his "Ghost Hunters" programs. So...I went down to the family room to sew. Oops. I forgot that I had laid out four boxes to go through for the keep, recycle and shred process. I finished all four boxes. By then it was time to go to bed and I never got my sewing done. Drat!

Tonight I am going to go down to the working studio and cut fabric for the "Breakfast Club" Danish pattern. I need to get all the fabric cut and the half square triangles sewn. Then on Saturday I can start putting all the blocks together. How exciting!

Have a great day.

Pictures of my first set of pillowcases

2010-04-10T21:34:00.004-04:00

You may remember my discussing the Million Pillowcase Challenge. I have uploaded the photos from my camera of my first six pillowcases.

No Studio Makeover progress to provide

2010-04-09T10:37:00.001-04:00

I have been in a reading mood all week long and have not worked in my Studio at all. Hopefully this weekend will give me the energy to continue on it.

Have a great day

Studio Makeover

2010-04-05T08:12:00.001-04:00

Great progress was made on Sunday. All of my quilting magazines have been organized into individual magazine holders and placed in the largest of my bookcases in the new Studio. I labeled the front of each holder with the names of the magazines so I can go to exactly which publications I want to look at. Next will be putting them in chronological order and creating an Excel spreadsheet so I know what I have in my library of quilt magazines. I am so excited!

I also took out two boxes of recycled paper to the curb for pick up this morning. I have a third, but I ran out of energy. I will be the 1st box for next weeks recycling.

My LQS has a Weekly "Sew:cial every Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30. I think I will start going once a month to check it out and see if it is worth the $12.50 fee. Another LQS has a monthly sew-in on the 2nd Saturday of each month and it is only $5.00 plus you can purchase $5.00 or more in the store and get a credit of $5.00 off your purchase. Now that I call a friendly LQS benefit.

I still haven't pulled out my sewing machine to start working on my 1 at a time list. It will have to wait a little longer until I get more of the studio in order.

Have a great day.

Studio Makeover

2010-04-02T11:06:00.000-04:00

Isn't it funny when you put something off for so long and then find it to be quite simple? Last evening I put in two hours on my studio makeover while watching a movie that DH didn't want to watch. What a lesson. Every time he puts something on that I don't want to watch I have an excuse to work on my studio. How enlightening!

Have a great day

LQS 1 Year Anniversary

2010-04-01T14:09:00.002-04:00

Seams Sew Easy in Fairfield, OH celebrated its fist anniversary today. This is the shop that also participates in the Million Pillowcase Challenge. To help them celebrate I purchased the fabric for 6 more pillowcases. If I get them done before the end of April I will have two more chances in the prize drawing.

It was quite a celebration with a CAKE that was beyond description and of course made of CHOCOLATE! I wish I had time to get a piece but I had to get back to work.

Have a great day.

Million Pillowcase Challenge

2010-04-01T10:45:00.003-04:00

Yesterday after work I dropped off my six pillowcases. I am now entered into a drawing twice (once for each three pillowcases) for a prize. What is the prize? I don't know.

My LQS is having their 1st anniversary celebration this weekend starting with a grand opening today at noon. I am fortunate that I work less than 1/2 mile from them so I will be doing their celebration during my lunch hour. I cannot wait. Only one hour to go.

Last night I worked more on the Studio Makeover. There is so much stored paper that needs to be separated into recycle, keep or shred. I have all the documents from the five years my DH and I ran a trucking firm. We went out of business in 1999 so I figure that if the IRS or the NTB would want anything they would have contacted us by now. All of that will be shredded.

Then I will start a very big fire. I am burning all the shredded documents a little at a time. Sure hope we have a cool evening ahead for the great bon fire. DH is afraid I will start a chimney fire. He wants to clean the chimney first. DUH. I will take a mirror and look up the chimney first to make sure that there is no tar on the sides of it. If is clear I will fire up with no fears. I have lived with wood burning fireplaces since I was 5 and I will not admit how many years between then and now.

Have a great day.

Studio Makeover

2010-03-31T11:22:00.001-04:00

Yesterday evening I spent about an hour working on the mess that is currently the family room and will be a Studio. I am in the process of recycling some things and shredding others. Tiresome, but it is progress.

Have a great day.

No progress on the Studio Makeover

2010-03-30T11:43:00.001-04:00

I came home so tired and in such a low mood that all I did was eat supper and go to bed.

Today I am full of energy and ready to take the world on. I have a to do list for this evening and have prioritized it. I will follow it to the best of my ability.

Friday Night Sew In

2010-03-29T08:51:00.001-04:00

Today I joined a ring of quilters / sewers that sew together one Friday night each month. I saw it mentioned on another blog that I follow and signed up for it. It doesn't matter where you live you can still enjoy the FNSI by joining.

Studio accomplishments

2010-03-29T08:32:00.001-04:00

I have cleared the one bookcase and moved it and a display case back to back between the office area and the hallway from the studio to the sliding glass door. I have started putting quilting magazines into the bookcase. It looks so empty, but when I bring all the magazines from my upstairs office down it will start to take shape.

I move my quilt design table into the official studio area last night. Currently it is being used as a laundry folding table and a sorting table for magazines. I will also start to sew blocks from my BOM club as well as my Breakfast Club.

I still have quite a large area of the family room to turn into the studio. But with the warmer weather it will be easier to work down stairs. I hope to have it all completed and the quilting frame erected in the studio by Mother's Day. What a present for myself and my quilting.

When I get it all finished I will take some pictures and post them here. I am just getting used to posting pictures and cannot wait until everything is set and I can show it off.

Have a great day

Million Pillowcase Challenge

2010-03-25T11:24:00.002-04:00

I know that this is not quilting, however my LQS is involved in the challenge and Tuesday I took a vacation day and learned how to make a fantastic pillowcase. In fact I made six. The first three took three hours. The second three too two hours. They tell me they will become even quicker.

Pictures to follow.

I have a quilting frame in my house

2010-03-15T11:07:00.003-04:00

Friday the Hinterberg Original Machine Quilting Frame arrived in two separate boxes. I opened the small one and it contained the aprons for attaching the quilt to the frame.

I am debating on whether to finish the wood parts of the frame. There are three possibilities: leave it unfinished, use polyurethane to seal it or paste wax to protect it. I cannot decide. I think I will google it and see what other quilters have done.

During the weekend one of the bookcases was almost emptied. As soon as it is ready to move I will put it out of the way in the downstairs bathroom (temporarily). The area behind this bookcase needs in depth cleaning as it hasn't been moved for almost three years. After this is completed I will empty the other bookcase and put it at the foot of the stairs. I am not sure what I will store in it. Currently it is a combination of quilting stuff and books by some of my favorite authors. The authors can go upstairs in the bookcase with my other favorites and then I can decide what to put in it. I purchased two Sauder bookcases and a desk along with lamps when I first decided to turn the family room into a studio. I wonder if now is the time to pull out the bookcases and start using them? I think I need more work done in the room before I add any more furniture...including the quilt frame.

Have a great day

Family room to a Studio

2010-03-08T12:34:00.004-05:00

My husband even complemented me on the progress in changing the family room into a sewing room. I have one large box of things to go through and then I can start to use the TV again. I have a goal of switching out two bookcases and then moving the couch to the north side of the room facing the front windows of the room and facing the TV.

I think I have decided where to put my quilting frame. It will be located on the east side of the sewing room so that I can see the fireplace and TV and look out the sliding glass door on the north side of the house.

One step at a time. I still have to change the east side of the family room before I can put the quilting frame together. I had planned on ordering it Saturday, but with one thing and another I had to put it off. I moved the money I had saved for the frame to my VISA so I can purchase it at any time. I am really excited about getting it.

Yesterday DH and I were talking about the studio and I mentioned that the next thing I want to purchase is the Weekender Mid-arm from Hinterberg. When he found out it was $1,699.00 he hit the roof. I think I will have saved enough to pay cash for it by November or December. It will be my Christmas present to myself.

Have a nice day.

I'll be a blue nosed gopher

2010-03-04T10:08:00.003-05:00

When I went to guild it seemed that so many of my former buddy's were so nice to me. Recently I had left a comment on one of these ladies blog congratulating her on her successes in knitting and suggesting a book to help her with the problem all sock knitters have (the second one rarely looks like the first one). This lady has set up her blog to review all comments before publishing them. She graciously published my comment.

Maybe I am mellowing or maybe these ladies are mellowing. I do know that life will be more pleasant than it has been.

Have a great day

March OVQG Guild Meeting

2010-03-02T10:20:00.002-05:00

I met such an interesting lady yesterday evening at Guild. I didn't catch her last name but her first name is Ellen. We had a lovely conversation about knitting and quilting and sewing in general. It was so nice to connect with another member of Guild. I would love to connect with her again.

One of our moving forces in guild Carrie is moving to Alaska. What a loss to our guild. She has been a motivating force in the 5 years of membership. I am going to miss her both as a guild member and a mentor.

Several people approached me and said hello. I was pleasant, but I don't want to get involved with that group again. They may think I have changed, but I haven't changed. I have evolved through two crisis with DH and almost lost him both times. The first time they dropped me like a hot potato because I was not pleasant to be around. Anger is my first reaction when I am handling a very difficult situation. In the fall of 2008 it was very stressful and I was very angry.

I can be pleasant to them. I can interact with them. However, I hesitate to ever trust them again. It is sad to have lost people who you thought you could count on through think and thin.

Back to guild. We had a wonderful speaker this month. Although her style of quilting does not compare to mine I took away some very sound advice. ACCURATE 1/4 INCH SEAM ALLOWANCE! I also like her new line of patterns. They are of women of different cultures. I hope to pick up one or two and make them from my stash. Yes, you heard me right. I am willing to cut into my stash to make some small wall hangings.

Have a blessed day.

Working on changing the family room to a studio - update 1

2010-02-15T10:42:00.003-05:00

This weekend I was really into working on the family room. I put together a table that I bought two years ago for the studio and started using it. (The table actually is meant for a patio, but it works very well as a place to sort things as I clean up the family room.)

I moved all the Christmas wrapping stuff into the storage area in the basement. I found an old vaporizer for cold vapor and took it upstairs (we are in a bi-level) to clean and set up as the static electricity is getting bad. I found a box of old papers and sorted it. I have about 1/2" of papers to file and the rest is going into the recycle bin for next week's garbage pick up. I put some gardening things together in one box instead of two. When the snow gets a little easier to walk through I will move the box to the shed. On second thought I think I will move all the gardening things into the garage. I think we will have to do some major remodeling of the shed this spring and I don't need to move things more than twice!

This may not sound like a lot, but my family room is 65F degrees and that is cold compared to the 69 to 71 upstairs. Once I get a space cleared out for the heater it will be better, but I want it in the open for safety. I also want to move the couch from where DH thought it was best (with the back to the fireplace) and start a fire. That will also help heat the family room.

There still isn't enough room for the quilting frame. I cannot make up my mind whether to set it up for a king size quilt or set it up for a queen size quilt. There is a difference in the length of the rails and ultimately the width of the frame. This is a decision I have to make before I order it and also it depends on where I set it up in the studio. Decisions!

Have a great day

Working on changing the family room to a studio

2010-02-09T12:05:00.002-05:00

DH moved several things out of the family room and I organized things that were stashed on the love seat.

All of the Christmas Wrap has been organized and is ready to be placed in the closet for next year. My Design Sewing Center that I received as a Christmas present was excellent for wrapping gifts. I could sit down and wrap without hurting my back.

Last night was a knitting night and I didn't get much done in the family room. But I will keep working on it until it becomes a studio!

Have not forgetten posting

2010-02-05T13:22:00.001-05:00

Sorry about the length between posts. I have been doing a lot of knitting since mid December and the quilting fell by the way side.

You will never guess what I am getting. I am getting my quilting frame. I will buy one that can be used with a home sewing machine and if I ever get the money I will buy a mid or short arm machine.

This weekend DH and I will be making a space for the frame. Until that space is available I will not allow myself to order the frame. The money is tucked into a savings account specifically for the purchase.

Have a great weekend, Karen

2010 Block of the Month: Civil War Tribute

2010-01-16T12:38:00.003-05:00

The first package of my 2010 block of the month club arrived today. I have a delema. Do I keep to my one project at a time plan? Or is the bom like homework from a class. I have to make a decision.

I so would like to start the bom and continue it through the year. Maybe it is like a class.

Have a great day.

New Years Resolution (rather goal)

2010-01-08T11:38:00.002-05:00

Recently on a quilter's blog I found a process that I would like to start in my quilting. One project at a time. What a concept!

I will take one UFO from my list and complete it. I will start nothing new until I have at least one accomplishment. The only exception to this will be when I take a class. These class projects will go into the UFO list, but only homework for the next session will be done.

This is a major challenge as you can see by the list of UFO's and USO's that I have. My goal is to get these two lists to a managable size and ultimately only be working on one project at a time.

Since I knit, sew clothes and quilt that will be three projects working on concurrently. I think this is a nice way to simplify my life.

MIL wall hanging

2009-12-23T10:19:00.001-05:00

Today is my last day at work before Christmas. Tonight I intend to sit down at my sewing machine and finish the wall hanging. Most of the pieces are cut out and all I have to do is place each piece and then tack down before machine applique with a blanket stitch. I am looking forward to doing this tonight.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Saturday morning Breakfast Club

2009-12-23T10:10:00.002-05:00

The third Saturday of each month is Breakfast Club at my local quilt shop. In November we started a pattern called Fiesta Eggs. This is supposed to be a simple pattern that a beginner can use.

Well we learned different about 1/2 hour before we were scheduled to be wrapping up. Therefore, we scheduled a December third Saturday to complete the project.

In December we all thought things were going well and basically they were, but we made slow progress. Since there are only four regulars we decided to continue with the project in January.

I do have my homework cut out for me. Since my project is in red and green I decided to make the corner stones of the shashing into an eight pointed star in gold and the shashing in blue. I need to get all my shashing done before the January Breakfast Club meeting

MIL Wall Hanging -- new deadline

2009-12-12T10:55:00.002-05:00

Well, they changed the dates on me at the nursing home and I have not finished the wall hanging. I will just have to settle with December 25 as the deadline.

Perhaps I will get to work on the hanging this weekend. It is supposed to be rainy Saturday afternoon through all of Sunday. A perfect excuse to seclude myself in the quilting!

Have a great day

MIL Wall Hanging

2009-12-07T12:43:00.002-05:00

I have a definite deadline for this project. The nursing home where MIL lives is having a Christmas party on 12/14 and the presents have to be in the activity room no later than 12/11. This wall hanging must be finished on Thursday of this week. I have most of the pieces cut out. Now to machine applique them to the background and hang bells, apply stars and apply dark buttons for Santa's eyes.

Have a great day

Christmas presents

2009-12-03T10:51:00.002-05:00

Surely I wouldn't start a Christmas gift after Thanksgiving? You want to bet.

I have started on a Santa wall hanging for my MIL. I have almost all the pieces cut out. Since NASCAR season is over I can plan on working on it Sunday.

Right now I am mostly working on my knitting.

Have a great day

Quilter's Design Table

2009-11-25T11:08:00.002-05:00

JoAnn's had a sewing table on sale and I showed it to DH. He said to go ahead and get it as my Christmas present. I spent all Saturday afternoon and evening putting it together. I got to bed at 2 A.M. The next morning DH helped me with a few things that I couldn't put together. All in all the dratted thing had 23 parts and too many screws, hinges, casters and wooden pins to count. I could not believe how stiff I was Sunday morning.

I am starting to set up the table to work on my Christmas presents. I have several mini quilts in mind to give to my daughter. I will post about them later.

See my new blog about knitting. I also have a blog called the bucket list. I hope you get a laugh from it.

Have a great day

Serger

2009-11-03T15:44:00.004-05:00

I finally had enough money in my credit union savings account to purchase a serger. It is one of the least expensive of the Singer sergers on the market. I still have to read the directions and then find some fabric to practice on. I still have to make room for another machine.

Have a great day.

Organization Tips

2009-09-22T11:16:00.002-04:00

Oh I wish I had some organization tips to give people who read my blog. There is only one thing that comes to mind right now.
1. A place for everything and everything in it's place.
2. Keep like things together in one place. (i.e.: All rotary cutters in a box, basket, or use a hanging shoe rack and keep them in a specific pocket.

I will try to come up with some more.

Anyone out there who has tips please share them with me and I will post them in a special side bar.

Shop Hop

2009-09-21T15:39:00.003-04:00

This got on my blog empty. Too funny.

Last Saturday (9/12) I continued on to a shop in Burlington, KY. It is called Cabin Arts and is in two buildings right next to each other. You will never believe it but a couple from Dry Ridge arrived just after I did. Reunion.

The shop is lovely and has a good variety of fabrics and patterns. I certainly hope they are included in the Tri State Shop Hop again next year.

After getting lost in Lawrenceburg, IN and getting lost again I finally found the main street and there was the quilt shop. The city has changed so much with the casinos pouring money into their city and county budget that they have totally remade the main thorough fare. The Quilt Bug is a shop I have been in before but they have changed their store greatly. Good quality fabric and several patterns that I need to return and check out.

With my car not being real cooperative I thought about not stopping at another shop, but Best Friends Quilt Shop in Cincinnati yelled my name and I couldn't pass by. The have expanded their store front to double the size. Everything is nicely presented and they appear to be building up the number of quality fabrics that they are going to display. I saw a couple of wonderful patterns for Christmas that are in kit form. Once my quilting budget grows a little I will have to go back.

Saturday, 9/19 I continued on my journey. But first I stopped at Seam Sew Easy for the Breakfast Club class. The pattern is called Belgium Waffles and it is exciting to work on. I almost finished one placemat. I also discovered that some of the jelly rolls in my stash are not quality fabric. I will have to use a fusable on the back of the other strips in order to have a nice placemat. Nancy reminded me at noon that I had to get hopping so I left with the promise to come back and work more on the placemat's.

After a very long journey through the corn and soy bean fields of western Ohio and eastern Indiana I ended up at Pohlar Fabrics in Libery, IN. It is right across from the dock on Brooksville Reservour that I used to fish from with my 2nd husband. I remember the fishing with joy; the husband is in the divorced pool again.

Guess who I ran into at Pohlar Fabrics? My buddy from the Kentucky shops. She was all finished with her hopping, but came back to Pohlar Fabrics to pick up some more fabric. We had a nice talk and she encouraged me to take my time at Appalachian Quilts in Fairborn, OH.

Next a longer trip through the fields and I ended up in Trenton, OH. I didn't run into any other shop hoppers I know, but I had a lovely time with my friends at Valley Quilt Shop.

Next was the trip up to Dayton, Ohio. My first stop was at Sew-A-Lot, then Appalachina Quilts and finally at Sulfur Grove Quilt Shop. I will add comments latter.

More next posting. Have a great day, Karen

Shop Hop and Retreat

2009-09-14T08:32:00.002-04:00

Saturday I spent the afternoon driving from one quilt shop to another following the Tri-State Shop Hop bunny path. I was able to visit 7 of the twelve shops. What a drive.

My first stop was Sew-Ezy Sewing Studio in Sharonville, OH. They had a demonstration of a quilt as you go process that I really like. I pickup up the pattern and fabric bag and the gave out a goody bag. There was a pattern that I will have to go back for. It was like trick or treat. Along with water and pretzels they included a coupon for a local restaurant and a body shop. The restaurant is one of my favorites and very close to where I work.

Next stop was Aunt Ruth's Quilt Shop in Sharonville, OH. I had been in this shop before and was glad for a return visit. They are super friendly and have a great selection of fabrics. They have recently moved to a new location and have more room for their class studio. I have attended their 2nd Saturday night sew for all and really enjoyed the interaction.

Glendale, OH was my next stop at Stitches. This is the store that I originally had my first quilting classes at. They were in Fairield, OH, but relocated to a lovely shopping center. While I was there I saw a jacket that would be perfect for me after being altered to a vest. I recently completed my CCW and need vests to cover the holster. (Yes along with everything else I am proficient with firearms.)

After the first three shops I had a long drive to Dry Ridge, KY. The Quilt Box is located in a very old farm house on a working farm. They even have a pond that husbands can fish as long as they release any catch they make. I was enchanted with the shop and while talking to the husband of the owner he mentioned Japanese fabrics. These are regular quilting fabrics with traditional quilt motifs. Not the usual Japanese pagodas and kimono dressed women. I overheard two staff members talking about how several patrons have purchased this fabric to make clothing. I will definitely have to go back.

I will continue this later.

Sewing Studio update

2009-08-25T13:45:00.004-04:00

I have started to make progress in my sewing studio. You no doubt remember my moaning about it in several past blogs. Well it is finally getting the attention it deserves.

Last weekend I started going through all the "trash" that has accumulated in the family room. I have only made a dent; but a good dent at that. The recycle bin will be full next Monday. I may even stack several boxes of paper on top of the bin.

Once I get all the paper out and move the garden pots that have accumulated (I think they multiply like rabbits) then I will start to see more possibilities.

Last year during the back to school sales I purchases two or three book cases. They are waiting patiently for me in the garage. I cannot wait to put them together and use them for the magazines and books about sewing and quilting that I have gathered together over the years. How exciting to be able to go to a book case and pull out the very pattern I want. As I put things into place I will also be creating a database of title, pattern and location for each. Then I can go to the computer and say "I want a pattern with the Ohio Star" and find all the various books and magazines that use it. How exciting!

The other thing that I am so looking forward to is my sewing machines. Yes. I have many. Three or four are in the garage also. Mostly Singer machines, but also a treadle machine. I am going to get that treadle machine in working order for the next time we have a power outage. I will not be deprived of my quilting where there is no electricity.

I leave for my October retreat early this year. They had to change the date to September 26, 27 and 28. I so look forward to the friends I have made over the last retreats. I will be looking specially for Maureen. I haven't seen her since last year and I miss her kindness and gentle spirit. Some of the others just make me want to burst out laughing. They are a great group of women and I love them all.

Enough for now. Talk to you later.

Quilt Quild

2009-08-04T12:41:00.002-04:00

I missed Guild again last night. I have been having problems with my pancreas and it's too painful to go running around. Now I will have to wait until October's meeting since we meet the first Monday of each month and the September meeting always falls on Labor Day.

Wonder how much I can get done on my list?

Have a great day, Karen W.

NQA Annual Show in Columbus, Ohio

2009-06-22T14:02:00.003-04:00

Saturday I attended the Quilt show in Columbus. I had a great time. I met vendors from past years and some new ones as well. I enjoyed talking to one vendor from Marshall, MI. I attended college at Western Michigan University very near to Marshall and have fond memories of dinners at Winn Schuler's restaurant and seeing the town circle decorated for Christmas. I asked and they do still put up the Camel Crossing sign between the outer sidewalk and the circle to the Nativity Scene. Wonderful old memories.

I also talked to a vendor who's husband was in Alabama at a Bagpipe Competition. They sometimes go their separate ways and sometimes go together. She used to be a professional competitor in Scottish Dancing. Now in her late 50's she is no longer to compete, but still dancing when possible. She told me about a Bagpipe and Dance competition that is open to the public in northern Ohio in August. Depending on DH health we may go up to see it. He loves the sound of the bagpipe and I love the dancing.

While I was at the convention I saw a display for a powdered product that mends all types of fabrics. This includes denim, cotton, silk and wool. The way DH goes through his jeans I figured that it would pay for itself in one pair of jeans. Then I saw another display for Angelina that also uses the same powder. Two birds with one stone!

I really shouldn't mention this, but one of the group of quilter's that told me I was no longer welcome in the neighborhood quilt bees was at the convention also. I was walking up one isle and as she turned into the isle she immediately told the one woman with her that they needed to go back around. I think she ran away from me. Well that is what a bully does when they are not surrounded by their friends, isn't it? She still amazes me. Every time we pass each other at Guild meetings she looks down at her shoes. She doesn't have the graciousness to look at me and refuses to talk to me. Well that is her lose and my gain. I have learned that "good friends" that don't stay with you through the bad times are no friends at all. I would rather deal with a straight out enemy than a snake in the grass. ENOUGH ABOUT THEM.

I enjoyed the quilts on display and took so many pictures that I had to replace the batteries in my camera twice. When taking a picture of one quilt I finally realized what one of the quilt tops that I inherited from my grandmother was an Irish Chain pattern. I had always classified it as a 25 patch block. Funny how looking through the lens of a camera will may things look totally different.

Have a great day.

Studio Makeover

2009-05-18T10:30:00.003-04:00

I keep procrastinating about my studio makeover. Tonight I will be taking all my quilting projects that are in the living room and moving them down to my original sewing room.

Maybe if I am in the lower area of the house I will be moved to work on the current family room to make it available for my studio.

All of the back issues of quilting magazines have finally arrived. My plan is to review one issue at lunch each day at work. Then I will take it home and enter it into my Quilt Magazine Database that evening. This will get the magazines put away as each one is entered.

I have gotten out the portable quilt frame and my Great Grandmother's quilt. They will be set up in the original sewing room and I will be working on the quilt until my guild meeting on June 1. That will give me 15 days to get it ready for viewing even if the hand quilting is not complete. I expect that Monday, May 25 (which is when the U.S. celebrates Memorial Day this year) will be a day of great progress. I intend to hide in my sewing room the entire day.

Have a great day.

Mouse Pad

2009-05-15T14:59:00.002-04:00

I recently read in a magazine (new or back issue I do not know) that putting a mouse pad under the sewing machine foot pedal will keep it from walking across the floor. Yesterday I found an old one at work that I really don't know why I saved. I took it home and now need to get my machine out and try my new not to walk pedal.

I am finally past the 2 week lifting restriction and can get my machine out. DH has been working on the outside and is so tired that asking him to help me is more than I can do. He is exhausted by the end of the day.

Have a nice weekend.

Guild was fun last night!

2009-05-05T12:44:00.006-04:00

Our quilt guild met last evening. DH was so concerned about my driving to the meeting and back. I did fine. But, and there always is a but, I should have taken him up on his offer to drive me. My pulse rate was up too high to sleep until almost 4 this morning. 2 hours of sleep is not enough!

The meeting was just what I had hoped for. The show and tell had a lot of Shashiko quilts and the students of the class from Sunday brought some of their work to show as well. The speaker is a member of guild and she gave her "Memory Quilts" presentation. There were times when I wanted to cry and other times when I felt inspired to new heights by her endurance. I think she was talking about another class in the future. I would surely like to go.

Guild is planning a trip down memory lane next meeting and they asked if we would bring in quilts that had special meaning to us; either our first quilt or one with special background or one that had been made by a family member. I signed up to show my great grandmother's "Grandmother's Garden" quilt. I have been hand quilting it since forever. Maybe in the next month I can get some more done before the show and tell. It is a precious quilt to me and one that will never get used. It will be stored and displayed in a safe environment.

Several members of the guild came up to me and we had wonderful conversations. My old "friends" of course avoided me. I don't continue to attend the guild because of them, but because it is where I belong. I learn and get inspired by all the members!

I found out that the group that was sending quilts to the maternity center in Alaska are not doing it at the present time. Such a worthwhile effort and so special to the mothers. I may have some fabric and patterns that I had set aside for future quilts and can put them to good use. I will ask Jerri if she will give me the address and I might just send up some quilts on my own. That would make the people at the center and the mothers feel so special. I love doing that for others!

With the restrictions the cardiologist put on me for the next two weeks I cannot make more than one trip downstairs each day. The one for today is done. Tomorrow I will get out GG quilt and look it over. Let's see if I can make it a little more presentable to my guild members.

Have a great day and keep on quilting.

Ohio Valley Quilters Guild May, 2009

2009-05-04T14:52:00.006-04:00

Tonight is Guild meeting. James has promised to take me if I don't feel up to driving that far. I had an angiogram on Friday. The results are that I have a wonderfully strong heart and no repairs are needed. Guild will be just the thing to bring up my spirits. I am so limited in activities and cannot lift even my sewing machine. Looks like fabric and a rotary cutter are going to be my next best friends for the next two weeks.

Over the weekend when I was comfortable sitting up I started cataloging my quilting magazines. I wanted to use a database, but found that just a single spreadsheet on Excel will do just as well. I am listing each article. The columns are Magazine Name, Volume, Number, Issue, Publication Date, Article, Page, Regular Articles, Special Articles and A Flag if it is a project or article that I know at this time I want to go back and look at. It takes a while to enter each magazine, but in the long run it will be like a card catalog in the public library and very useful. I plan on entering my quilt books as well so that I have everything in one place. How organized LOL.

Tomorrow I will ask DH if he will get out my sewing machine and put it on the table for me. Maybe I can start sewing as well as cutting.

Have a great day and smile at someone.

Why did I take my sewing machine?

2009-04-21T12:47:00.002-04:00

We got back from Orlando late Sunday after having a wonderful trip. I got my sewing machine out on Saturday and there it sat for seven days until I could pack it up again. Too much to do and not enough time to do it. By the time we got back to the Condo it was all I could do to get into a nightgown and fall asleep.

Max and Roxie traveled with us to Orlando and stayed in the Bass Pet Motel. They were happy to see us when we visited and really glad to go home. The kennel said they were welcome back any time.

We had a great time in Disney World and at Discovery Cove. I finally got to swim with a dolphin. I have been dreaming about this since 1992. Another thing to scratch off my bucket list. Oh...I need to start a bucket list.

The sewing machine is in the living room waiting for me to get at it. I stopped at two quilt shops on the way home and picked up more patterns and equipment for my quilt studio.

Have a great day.

Florida here we come sewing machine and all

2009-04-08T10:44:00.004-04:00

We leave for Orlando tomorrow and I cannot wait. I am taking two projects that have all or most of the fabric precut and my sewing machine and a few tools for these projects.

We have three days at WDW with the entire family and then other things we want to do around the Orlando area. We also have a dolphin encounter at Discovery Cove and get to swim with the dolphins. Also there is snorkeling with rays and tropical fish. I cannot wait!!!!!

Have a great day.

Progress on MIL quilt

2009-03-24T08:11:00.002-04:00

I have cut out four of the blocks for the quilt. By that I mean that a total of 17 blocks are cut as each one has four identical blocks placed in the top.

Saturday I was watching a video on QNNtv about EQ and realized that the top was missing somthing. No sashing. How amazing! I pulled up the design and added sashing in the same color as the borders. It is a really wonderful red. The cornerstones of the shashing are going to be white on white fabric. It really made the quilt pop. I cannot wait to start the sewing. However, I am going to have all the cutting completed so that I can just start sewing and not have to jump back and forth between.

We are leaving for Orlando on April 9th. I will be taking the cut pieces for my MIL quilt and Navajo Tears with me. In my spare time between Disney World and Discovery Cove I will sew and chat with our family. I cannot wait.

I hope we will be taking my DH computer with us so that I can post while I am down south, but if not I will update you when we get home.

Have a great day and enjoy Spring.

Helen's Quilt

2009-03-16T15:48:00.004-04:00

I have actually started my MIL quilt. It has twenty five blocks 6 different patterns. It is based on the Christian Cross and then moves to other patterns that have crosses. I have cut out the one block that will represent five in the top and another block that will represent four in the top. That leaves me with 4 blocks to cut out. I am so excited. Surely you can tell by reading this.

Too many times I have posted my intentions and then life gets in the way. Not to be a Pollyanna or a goody-two-shoes, but no more intentions and only completions. Unless I have to get on the pity-pot.

We are leaving for Orlando on April 9 and I have packed "Navajo Tears" as one project. I want to have Helen's Quilt as my other project. I think two tops to piece should be more than enough. There I go again with my intentions.

Friday evening the Patchwork Party Spring 2009 started showing up on the websites of the 12 quilt shops that are participating. I was having so much fun with the blocks and the fabrics that I stayed up until 4:00 A.M. on Saturday. That was a long day, but really got my creative juices flowing. I still need to do some cutting on the PP Spring 2008, but I don't think I will get involved in the new one.

Have a great day.

Vikki Pignatelli at Guild Meeting

2009-03-03T07:49:00.002-05:00

This month our guild had Vikki Pignatelli as our guest speaker. She also taught two classes over the weekend. I was fortunate enough to be able to take her Curves class on Saturday and her trunk show and talk at guild was inspiring.

I finally got my sewing machine out of moth balls after no sewing since early November. It felt really good to be creative. I learned a lot about myself as well. By going outside of my comfort zone I discovered that the zone is much larger than I ever knew and it can be increased with little if no culture shock.

The curves class was great. Finally a way to applique without struggling. Well that isn't quite true. I did have difficulty using the blind hem stitch and staying in the ditch. My accuracy needs some more practice! The technique Vikki teaches is going to be so useful. I think that hand applique will diminish in my piecing and quilting.

Tonight after two doctor's appointment and several errands I will get to work FINALLY on my grandson's Cub Scout vest. It has been sitting too long! After that I will continue to work for a hour or so each day on my quilting. I have been immersing myself in reading for the last month instead of creating I have been involved in someone else's creativity. Now it is time for me to express myself.

Have a great day and keep quilting!

Quilter's blogs

2009-02-06T07:57:00.003-05:00

I frequently read other quilter's blogs. I laugh with Ami Simms and learn with Myrna Giesbrecht along with many others. Today I changed my thought for the day in this blog and it made me realize that with all the teachers I have had over the years I have gotten so many good tips and occasionally a not so good tip. We learn through experience.

(Thought for the day: Creative minds always have been known to survive any kind of bad training.)

Another lesson I have learned over and over is that we often make the same mistakes time and again. Each time life shoves my mistakes in my face and they are mistakes I have made before I try to learn. Sometimes I am more fortunate than others.

New Year's resolutions are definitely a thing of the past. I know that I will not keep them. Instead I have to set small specific goals and work until one is done before going on to the next. I am applying this at work as well as at home.

Have a great weekend.

Guild Meeting

2009-02-03T09:39:00.004-05:00

Last night I attended my quilt guild for the first time since November. At that time DH was still in the rehab center recovering from sepsis, pneumonia and kidney failure. He had lost over 30 pounds in one week and at one point was on life support.

My former friends in guild ignored me. In fact I said hello to one and she just walked passed me. They all gathered in a corner near the membership and name tag table. I would never treat a worm the way they treated me.

I know that some will believe what I next say is a lie, but I would never wish any harm to them, I would never wish they have to go through a devastating life change like mine and I will never attempt revenge on them. They were my friends. They are now people that I know but do not wish to associate with. I will be polite and keep my distance. I just want them to be polite and leave me alone.

We moved my MIL into a nursing home over the weekend and closed her apartment. She is adjusting very slowly. She likes the food and that is a big help. Everyone in the nursing home is so friendly and helpful. I think we made a good choice in where to have her live. She is not so sure about that, but I think she will come around to realize that it was for the best.

My quilting goals have gone totally out the window. Between my own recovery from total knee replacement to DH recover to MIL I haven't had my sewing machine out since November. Once things settle down I will start to access my works in progress and projects that I want to make or finish and set some specific goals.

I haven't done any knitting in years, but have a project I started two years ago for DH as a Christmas gift. It is a hooded sweater. I think I will take it with me when I visit MIL so I won't fidget when visiting.

Have a great day.

MIL Quilt

2009-01-20T08:32:00.004-05:00

I received a comment about the quilt for my mother-in-law and wanted to respond. Thank you very much for the advice. This quilt is not supposed to be a special quilt. It is to be a bright and happy way to welcome her to a new home. The fabric is not high quality as I know that it will be washed many times. If I have the opportunity to make another quilt when this one wears out I will be pleased. It will show that she loves and uses the quilt which is my intent.

Just the same the advice is wise for a quilt that would become an heirloom.

We are fortunate to have many quilts in her family that have been carefully taken care of. The even survived a major flood in 1997 when the Licking River in Falmouth, KY covered the house she was renting with muddy water for almost a week. The quilts had been layered on a bed in her 2nd bedroom so there was almost no wear. We washed them two or three times on a gentle cycle and the mud came out. We did not allow them to dry before the first wash. We were very lucky. Most of them are crazy quilts and they look as good as they did before the flood.

Change in priorities

2009-01-16T10:06:00.006-05:00

MIL is moving into a nursing home the end of this month. Because of my surgery I was not able to give her the quilt intended for Christmas. My new goal is to cut all the fabric, piece all the blocks, sew the blocks together, layer the backing, batting and top and sew it together like a pillow case and invert it. Then I will tie the quilt together rather than quilt it. I want to have it on her bed in the nursing home before she walks through the door or at least have it on my arm as the first thing to unpack.

All other projects will have to go to the bottom of the priority list for the time being. So many projects and so little time.

Our vacation schedule for 2009 has been fairly well settled. I plan on one week in Gatlinburg in March, one week in Orlando in April and three quilt retreats spread out through the year.

In the meantime I am slowly working my way into the family room to transform it into my sewing room / quilt studio. One item at a time each time I go down stairs. (Stairs are still difficult for me). My goal now is to have everything in place before we leave for Orlando so that I can pack quilting that is minimal in space requirements. Each time I pack I get a little better at taking only what I need and not over packing.

God bless you and keep you and your love ones safe and healthy.

Wheel of Mystery -- Quilt University

2009-01-14T09:26:00.002-05:00

On January 2 I started a new class at Quilt University. It is called Wheel of Mystery. The pattern is also called Winding Ways and various other names. On January 9 we got our second lesson.

I have chosen to do a series of different red fabrics one each for the "flower" of the pattern and use black as a background. I am slowly cutting out the red fabric. I have four completed and need 11 more. I may start piecing the blocks together this weekend.

My recover from surgery is progressing. I came back to work on the 5 week anniversary of my total knee replacement (one week early) and will get a final full release on January 20. I haven't tried to drive yet as the knee is the right one and that is used from breaking and acceleration. I will wait for the total release and very dry roads before my first drive.

I have a very full day ahead so will cut this short.

God bless you and keep you safe and happy. Karen

Back to posting

2009-01-10T09:26:00.004-05:00

I am recovering well from my surgery. I spent four days in the hospital and 10 days in a nursing home before coming home on December 22. I had additional medical problems that made it impossible to be discharged from the hospital directly home.

Quilting has not been an active part of the last five weeks. I am enrolled in a class at Quilt University called "Wheel of Mystery" and received my second lesson yesterday. I have chosen my fabric. I need to start cutting it and piecing.

DH gave me $50.00 as a Christmas gift towards the purchase of a quilting frame. I am looking at a Grace frame.

God bless you, Karen

Other objectives

2008-12-01T08:30:00.004-05:00

Although I had a four day weekend I did not have the opportunity to do any quilting. Most of the time was spent working in the kitchen, working on a toilet that will not flush and searching for 5 pistols that belong to DH. The kitchen is almost back in pristine shape, the toilet is still not working and DH found 4 of the pistols. Today he will be looking for the last one. Finding these pistols takes a load off my mind.

We did have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with DD, SIL and GS. Jeremy is growing into such a wonderful boy. He and I had a long conversation and I must say he is fantastic. I love him too much to define. After dinner we had some target practice. Wait, you say. Jeremy is only 7. Well that kid can sure shoot a marshmallow blaster. I learned from him. What fun!

I have a very heavy work load during the next 15 calendar days and on December 16 I will be having my right knee replaced. I don't know how much blogging I will do in the meantime. I also need to stick very strictly to my diet so that my physical therapy after surgery is easier. 30 minutes 3 times a day for knee replacement physical therapy and some of it is patient driven. Thank God some of it is a machine that works on keeping the knee flexing. I will start at 35 degrees and end up at 110 degrees flex. After that any additional flexibility will be on my own.

Have a great day.

Getting ready

2008-11-25T10:10:00.002-05:00

All my sewing equipment and projects that went on vacation with us are now in the house and ready for me to get to work. I had obligations for this evening that just got cancelled so I will be setting up a sewing area in the living room and working on the completion of the Navajo blocks. I have 8 left to complete and then the next step in this quilt top.

There is a new quilt guild that a LQS is starting. I have investigated it and am thinking about attending the initial meeting. Since it will be very close to my home it may be another way of extending my quilting.

DH is doing much better so I will be able to be more outgoing in my small group and guild attendance.

Have a great day.

Home Safe and Sound

2008-11-24T08:52:00.002-05:00

We have returned from a very relaxing and restful week in Gatlinburg, TN. The sewing machine and my projects are the only remaining things in the car. I ran out of energy with the unloading. Thankfully the next vacation in April will be with a healthier husband and he can help with the unloading. He kept apologizing for not doing more, but he drove both ways and that was the saving grace.

I didn't get as much piecing done as I had expected. Creating 240 HST take a lot of time; with sewing and squaring up. I have almost 3/4 of my blocks completed for "Navajo Tears" and then I will lay out the blocks on the point with other fabric between. I have two options with the other fabric. Simple 8 1/2" squares or making QST and placing them in between the Navajo block. I will have to get my design wall out to make the decision.

This week is only 2 1/2 days of work. The rest will be some minor house cleaning after our vacation and getting ready for the holidays. Vacations are very nice, but there is always the let down and the recovery. Fortunately I love Thanksgiving and Christmas so this gives me a slow let down from vacation. I did some shopping in Sevierville for Christmas and only have a few items to purchase. Then the wrapping.

Have a great day.

Final day of vacation

2008-11-22T08:53:00.002-05:00

Today is our final day in Gatlinburg. We are well rested and relaxed and ready to get back into the fray.

We will be packing all our belongings today after I do laundry and put everything but our morning needs into the car today. Then we will be on the road home.

Only one stop on the way home. JoAnn's has a super store in Knoxville and I plan on spending a little time there. I picked up two patterns from Holloway House yesterday and they call for fat quarters. I have to look at the ad from JoAnn's to see if there is anything I would die for.

Have a great day.

Gatlinburg, TN

2008-11-21T21:11:00.002-05:00

We have been here since Saturday and have 1 1/2 days of vacation left. I have finished the hst for "Navajo Tears" and am putting together the last 14 blocks. Then I will need a surface to lay out the blocks and decide the order I wish to put them together in.

The quilt for MIL is still in the bag. We have been having so much fun here that very little sewing has gotten done. But that is okay. This is a time for us to reconnect and heal after two very hard years.

Have a great day.